Nashville, TN (2008-11-26) The unemployment rate in Scott County continued upward in October, rising another 0.4 percentage point to 12.7 percent—the third highest jobless rate in the State. In Tennessee, the jobless picture improved slightly, edging downward 0.2 percentage point from the September rate of 7.2 percent to 7.0 percent in October. The United States unemployment rate for the month of October was 6.5 percent.
According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, county non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for October 2008 indicated that 53 counties decreased. The rate increased in 27 counties and remained the same in 15 others.
In Scott County, 1,100 people were jobless in October, up from the 1,080 unemployed persons in September. While the number of jobless grew only slightly, the percentage increase was also affected by a reduction in the available work force. In September, the State reported 8,760 workers in Scott County, while the October figures reflected a labor force of 8,680, 80 fewer people. Between the two factors, the jobless rate rose 0.4 percentage point to 12.7 percent. While the jobs picture remains bleak, a good number of Scott County citizens still have jobs, 7,580. A year ago, the unemployment rate in Scott County was 7.3 percent.
Of the surrounding counties, Anderson County was the only one to report a reduction in unemployment. Anderson County’s jobless rate for October was 5.9 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from September. In Campbell County, the unemployment rate increased 0.3 percentage point in October, up to 8.3 percent. Fentress County saw a 0.5 percentage point increase in joblessness in October, rising to 10.9 percent. Morgan County’s October unemployment rate was 8.2 percent, a 0.7 percentage point increase over the month. Locally, Pickett County had the largest increase in joblessness in October, jumping a full percentage point to 12.0 percent.
Williamson County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 4.7 percent, down 0.3 percentage point from the September rate. Perry County had the state’s highest at 17.4 percent, up from 16.7 in September, followed by Lauderdale County at 14.5 percent, up from 13.1 percent in September.
Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate at 5.0 percent, down 0.3 percentage point from the September rate. Davidson County was 5.5 percent, down from 5.8 the previous month. Hamilton County was at 6.1 percent the same as the September rate, and Shelby County was 7.1 percent, down from the September rate of 7.4.